Lighthouses of the United States: Northern Massachusetts

A small state with a long coastline and many harbors, Massachusetts has
a large number of lighthouses. This page lists the lighthouses of
the northern part of the state, including Newburyport, the Cape Ann
area, Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor, and the Plymouth area.
Lighthouses of Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the south
coast are on the Southeastern Massachusetts page.
Boston is the largest port of the New England states, and the Cape
Ann area includes several historic and busy fishing ports. Many of
the lighthouses of this region are famous. The Boston Harbor Light
is the second oldest U.S. lighthouse and the oldest U.S.
light station.

Although there is no state preservation society, there are many local
societies. There have been substantial preservation efforts at many lighthouses
in recent years, although several towers remain in need of attention.

Jeremy D'Entremont's book, The Lighthouses of Massachusetts (Beverly,
Mass.: Commonwealth Editions, 2007) is an indispensible resource for
information on these lighthouses.

Navigational aids in Massachusetts are operated by the U.S. Coast Guard First District, but ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in many cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS
World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the
Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. USCG numbers are from
Vol. I of the USCG Light List.

1873. Inactive since 1961. 53 ft (16 m) square tapered red brick
tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story wood keeper's
house. Lantern and gallery painted black. The keeper's house is used
for offices. Robert English has a good closeup photo,
Anderson's page also has a good closeup
photo, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The Lighthouse
Preservation Society has reached an agreement with the owner,
developer David Hall, to have the structure restored and interpreted.
LPS is offering the tower for dinners
for two at $350, with half going to the preservation fund. Located
on Water Street near Independent Street in downtown Newburyport,
about 0.4 mile (650 m) east of US 1. Site open; tower closed, except for those with dinner reservations.
Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-545.

1873. Inactive since 1961. 15 ft (4.5 m) round cast iron tower
with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is red. The
lantern is a restoration (1990). Robert English
has a good closeup
photo,
Anderson has a good page
for the lighthouse, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The lighthouse was relocated in 1964 from Bayley's Wharf
to the grounds of the Merrimack River Coast Guard Station. In 1901
the original lantern was removed and the tower was extended with
an octagonal wood tower, later raised to a total tower height of
35 ft (12 m). Sometime in the late 1980s the tower was damaged by
fire; the Coast Guard then removed the wooden extension and added
the replica of the original lantern. In 1999 the Coast Guard agreed
to lease the tower to the Lighthouse Preservation Society for full
restoration and interpretation. Campbell Construction Group performed
some renovation in late 2001. Located on the waterfront between
Federal Street and Independent Street, about 350 ft (100 m) east
of the rear light. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard.
Site manager: Lighthouse
Preservation Society.
ARLHS USA-1097.

1898 (station established 1788). Active; focal plane 50 ft (15
m); green light, occulting twice every 15 s (occultations separated
by 4 s). 45 ft (13.5 m) round wood-shingled tower with lantern and
gallery, 4th order Fresnel lens (1856, transferred from the 1838
tower) in use. 2-story wood keeper's house (1898). Larry Myhre's
photo is at right, Anderson has a fine page
for the lighthouse, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The original keeper's house was for a long time the
headquarters of the Parker
River National Wildlife Refuge. A new Refuge headquarters
and visitor center was completed in 2004, and the keeper's house now houses refuge interns. A local support group,
Friends of Plum Island Light, Inc., leased the lighthouse from
the Coast Guard in 1996 and has been working ever since to maintain
and restore the lighthouse. Ownership of the lighthouse was
conveyed to the City of Newburyport in May 2003, and Friends of
Plum Island Light now leases the tower from the city. They hope
to acquire the keeper's house as a museum and visitor center.
The tower was renovated in 1994 and re-shingled in 1997 by the
Coast Guard. In 2016 the Friends group was seeking $12,000 in funding to repaint the tower and replace two windows. Located near the end of Northern Boulevard, at
the north end of Plum
Island on the south side of the Newburyport Harbor entrance.
Site open; tower open for tours every other weekend in the
summer. Owner:
City of Newburyport.
Site manager: Friends of Plum Island Light. ARLHS USA-544; Admiralty
J0250; USCG 1-0260.

Date unknown (station established 1837). Active; focal plane 30 ft (9 m); white light occulting once every 4 s. Approx. 20 ft (6 m) square skeletal mast carrying two diamond-shaped daymarks covered in a red and white checkerboard pattern. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has Beryl Reid's street view and an indistinct satellite view. A pair of brick range lighthouse were built here in 1837. In the 1860s the front lighthouse was replaced by a small wood tower that could be moved easily as the channel line evolved. The rear lighthouse was replaced by a cast iron lighthouse in 1881. The front light was discontinued and removed in 1932. In 1939, the rear light was relocated by barge to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, where it continues in service today (see the Southern Massachusetts page). Located on the dunes at the Crane Beach Parking Area, south of the entrance to Plum Island Sound. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: The Trustees of Reservations (Crane Beach on the Crane Estate). ARLHS USA-403 (front light) and 1113 (rear light); Admiralty J0266; USCG 1-9315.

1897 (station established 1801). Active; focal plane 45 ft (13.5
m); white flash every 7.5 s (red sector). 41 ft (12.5 m) round cylindrical
brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a workroom; 190
mm lens (1988). Tower painted white; lantern is black. Fog horn (2
blasts every 60 s). Stone oil house. The tower is connected to shore
by a wooden walkway. A photo is at right, Anderson has a good page for the lighthouse,
Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. Sibling of Eastern Point Light. The historic 1-1/2 story wood
keeper's house (1801) is used as Coast Guard housing. Stone oil house.
In 2000, the Coast Guard funded major restoration of the tower, repairing
interior ironwork, replacing windows, and repointing the brickwork,
which required replacing about 3000 bricks. Lighthouse Digestreported
on this restoration in September 2000. Located on Wigwam Point, off
MA 127, at the entrance to Annisquam Harbor in Gloucester. Site and tower closed;
there is limited parking close to the light. Owner/site manager: U.S.
Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-015; Admiralty J0268; USCG 1-9615.

1896 (station established 1835). Active; focal plane 46 ft (14
m); green flash every 6 s. 37 ft (11 m) round cylindrical brick
tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a workroom, 250 mm lens.
Tower painted white; lantern is black. Fog horn (blast every 15
s). Sibling of Eastern Point Light. The 1-1/2 story Gothic wood
keeper's house (1878) is boarded up and near
collapse. Anderson's page has several photos,
Robert English has a photo that also shows the Thatcher Island lighthouses (next entries), the house is also seen in Dennis Ebacher's 2011 photo, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, and Bing has an aerial
view. The Massachusetts
Audubon Society, which manages the
island, opposes public access and allowed the buildings
to deteriorate;
because of the condition in the keeper's house the station was placed
on the
Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. In 2001, the Lighthouse Preservation
Society proposed to relocate the keeper's house to Newburyport,
but nothing came of this idea, and the building appeared doomed.
In 2008 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA.
The Town of Rockport agreed to apply for ownership of the lighthouse,
with the Thacher Island
Association as manager; the association has a page for the lighthouse. In July 2009 the town's
application for ownership was approved, and the transfer took place in 2010. In 2014 the town signed a 30 year lease with Massachusetts Audubon for the keeper's house and oil house. Located on Straitsmouth Island,
off Gap Head in Rockport; there is a distant view from the Rockport
waterfront. Site and tower closed (bird sanctuary). Owner: Town
of Rockport (tower only). Site manager: Thacher Island
Association. ARLHS USA-815; Admiralty J0274; USCG 1-0290.

1861 (station established 1771). Reactivated (inactive 1932-1989,
now maintained by the Thatcher Island Association); focal plane
166 ft (50.5 m); continuous yellow light. One of a pair of 124 ft
(38 m) unpainted round granite towers with lantern and gallery,
siblings of Maine's Boon Island Light. 200 mm lens. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Anderson has
a fine page for the light station, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Google has a satellite
view. The two Thacher Island towers are the tallest Massachusetts
lighthouses. The north tower was restored by the International
Chimney Corporation in 1988-89. Located at the north point of Thacher
Island, which is about 1/2 mi (800 m) off the tip of Cape Ann in
Rockport. The northern part of the island is the Thacher Island National
Wildlife Refuge. Accessible only by boat; tours are available on Wednesdays
and Saturdays in July and August (reservations required). Located
at the north end of the island. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Town
of Rockport. Site manager: Thacher
Island Association. ARLHS USA-1027; Admiralty J0277; USCG
1-0305.

1861 (station established 1771). Active; focal plane 166 ft (50.5 m); red
flash every 5 s. One of twin 124 ft (38 m) unpainted round granite towers
with lantern and gallery, siblings of Maine's Boon Island Light. Solar-powered
VRB-25 aerobeacon; the original 1st order Fresnel
lens, formerly on display at the U.S.
Coast Guard Museum in New London, Connecticut, has been restored for display at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester. Fog horn (2 blasts every 60 s).
C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Anderson's excellent page has photos,
Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Marinas.com has fine aerial
photos, and Google has a satellite
view. The two Thacher Island towers are the tallest Massachusetts lighthouses.
In 2001, Cape Ann became the ninth light station recognized as a National
Historic Landmark, and in August 2001 the Coast Guard transferred ownership
of the south tower and the southern half of the island to the Town of Rockport.
Ongoing restoration efforts are returning this historic light station to
its late 19th century appearance. The boat ramp was rebuilt in 2000, and renovation of the assistant keeper's house was completed in 2002. Restoration of the principal keeper's
house was completed in 2007. The principal keeper's house now houses resident
caretakers. In December 2012 it was announced that the historic 1st order lens would be restored for display at the Cape Ann Museum; the installation of the lens took place in May 2013. Accessible only by boat; tours are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays in July and
August (reservations required). Located on the southeast side of the island.
Site open, tower closed. Owner: Town
of Rockport. Site manager: Thacher
Island Association. ARLHS USA-105; Admiralty J0276; USCG 1-0295.

Thacher Island South (left) and North Lights, August 2013 Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey

Gloucester Lighthouses

Note: The village of Annisquam (see above) is also part of the City of Gloucester.

1890 (station established 1832). Active; focal plane 57 ft (17.5
m); white flash every 5 s, day and night. 36 ft (11 m) round brick
tower with lantern and gallery, DCB-36 aerobeacon. The original 4th
order Fresnel lens is on display at the Cape
Ann Museum in Gloucester. Tower painted white; lantern is black
with a red roof. The 2-story duplex Victorian keeper's house (1879)
is used as Coast Guard housing. The oil house (1894) and assistant keeper's
house (1908) are also preserved. A fog bell used 1933-1969 is displayed
on the grounds. A photo is at right, David Gandy has a closeup,
Anderson has a good page with several photos,
Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The Coast Guard renovated the tower in 1993. Located at
the end of Eastern Point Boulevard in Gloucester, on the east side
of the entrance to Gloucester Harbor. Site and tower closed, but there
is public parking close to the light and good views from the nearby
breakwater. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-263; Admiralty
J0280; USCG 1-0330.

1881 (station established 1821). Reactivated (inactive 1956-1989); focal
plane 57 ft (17.5 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 30 ft (9 m) round cast iron
tower (brick lined) with lantern and gallery, 250 mm lens. Tower painted white,
lantern and gallery black. The original 5th order Fresnel lens is at the Maine
Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine. Fog horn (2 blasts every 20 s).
Keeper's house demolished in 1956. Anderson's page has good photos,
Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos,
Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Bing has an aerial
view. This lighthouse is familiar from the paintings of Winslow Homer, who boarded with the keeper for the summer of 1880.
The lighthouse was restored through efforts of the Lighthouse
Preservation Society in 1989. The oil house was restored in 1995. Located
on an island in the middle of Gloucester Harbor. The city maintains walking
paths to the lighthouse. Island accessible only by boat; water taxis available
in season. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City
of Gloucester. ARLHS USA-839; Admiralty J0284; USCG 1-9895.

1820 (station established 1798). Active; focal plane 111 ft (34
m); flash every 10 s, alternating red and white. 59 ft (18 m) round
old-style granite tower with lantern and gallery, solar-powered
rotating 190 mm lens. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black.
Fog horn (blast every 30 s). 1-1/2 story Victorian wood keeper's
house (1878) and assistant keeper's house, both leased as summer
residences. A brick fog signal building and rubblestone oil house survive in good condition. The 4th order Fresnel
lens (1855) is on display at the Maine
Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine. Brick fog signal building
(1907). A Coast Guard photo is at right, Anderson has a good page for the lighthouse, Trabas has a good photo by Michael Boucher, Marinas.com
has aerial
photos, and Google has a satellite
view. This is a historic and well-preserved light station with
an outstanding example of an old-style stone light tower. The
station had two wood towers originally. In 1815 both were heavily
damaged by a storm, and they were replaced by a single octagonal
stone lighthouse. The present round tower was added in 1820. The
1815 tower was deactivated and demolished in 1926. Huelse has
a historic postcard
view showing the two towers. Major restoration work to the 1820 tower was done in 1996. In 2000 the Coast Guard
solarized the light and restored the fog signal building. In 2002
the light station was listed for transfer under the National
Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, and in 2005 transfer of
ownership to the Essex
National Heritage Commission was approved. This transfer was
challenged in court by a group of island landowners who had organized
as the Baker's Island Lighthouse Preservation Society; they feared
that transfer to ENHC would lead to public access to the island.
In October 2006 a judge ruled against the society, apparently clearing the
way for the transfer to take place. But there were many more years of delay ahead, and the transfer did not take place until August 2014 (the photo at right was taken at the transfer ceremony). The landowners will not allow use of their dock, but in July 2015 the Society began offering tours using a landing craft that can deliver visitors to the beach near the lighthouse. The exterior of the lighthouse was restored in 2015, funded by a grant from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Located at the north end of Baker's Island, about 5
km (3 mi) east of the entrance to Salem Harbor. Accessible only
by boat; visible from many points in Salem and Marblehead. Site
generally closed but open to guided tours from the Salem Ferry Dock Wednesday through Sunday July 1 through Labor Day (early September). Capacity is limited, so reservations are advised. Owner:/site manager: Essex
National Heritage Commission (Baker's Island Light Station). ARLHS USA-031; Admiralty J0288; USCG 1-0350.

Date uncertain. 30 ft (9 m) pyramidal granite tower topped by
red and white diamond-shaped daymarkers. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Although the ledge is popularly
associated with the famous navigator Nathaniel Bowditch, it is actually
named for William Bowditch, Nathaniel's great-grandfather, who wrecked
his ship Essex Galley on the ledge in 1700. Located about 1
mile west of Baker's Island and 1 mile southeast of Allen Head. Accessible
only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast
Guard. USCG 1-10025.

1872. Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); continuous white light,
higher intensity on the range line. 45 ft (13.5 m) square brick
tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story Queen Anne
wood keeper's house (1871, modified 1968). Tower painted white,
lantern and gallery black. Buildings floodlit at night. The original
3-1/2 order Fresnel lens remains in use; a rare "condensing panel" intensifies
the light along the range line. Original brick oil house. The keeper's
house is the residence of the Commander of the First
Coast Guard District. A photo is at right,
Robert English has a good photo,
Anderson's fine page for the lighthouse has several photos,
Trabas has a closeup photo, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Bing has a satellite
view. The range guides vessels into Salem Sound along a line north of Baker's Island and Bowditch Ledge. Located at the end of Bay View Avenue (continuation
of East Corning Street), off MA 127 in Beverly, on the north
side of the entrance to Beverly Harbor. Site and tower closed
except for an annual open house, but parking is available nearby.
Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-389; Admiralty
J0290; USCG 1-10000.

1927. Active; focal plane 183 ft (56 m); continuous white light visible
only along the range line. Light displayed through a square opening in the
steeple of the First Baptist Church in Beverly. A 2010 photo shows the square opening well, Trabas has a photo showing
the tower being repainted, the Coast Guard has a historic
photo, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The church was largely destroyed by fire in August 1975, but
the steeple remained standing and a new building was built around it.
Located at Cabot and Abbott Streets in downtown Beverly, 2050 ft (625
m) west of the front range light. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site
manager: First
Baptist Church in Beverly. ARLHS USA-390; Admiralty J0290.1; USCG 1-10005.

1871. Reactivated (inactive 1969-1983, now maintained by the city
of Salem); focal plane 28 ft (8.5 m); white flash every 4 s. 32
ft (9.5 m) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, solar-powered
ML-300 lens (1994). Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black.
1-1/2 story Victorian wood keeper's house. Igor Motov has an excellent
photo,
Trabas has a closeup by Klaus Potschien, Anderson's page for the lighthouse
also has good photos,
Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The Fort Pickering Light Association saved the abandoned
lighthouse and works for restoration and maintenance of the tower.
The lantern and ironwork were restored
in 1999. The light failed in July 2009; after some partially-successful
efforts by the city to relight it the Coast Guard installed a rebuilt
solar-powered system in February 2010. Located just offshore of
Winter Island (now a peninsula) on the north side of the entrance
to Salem Harbor. Site and tower closed, but lighthouse can be closely
approached (parking fee for non-residents). Owner/operator: City
of Salem. Site manager: Winter
Island Marine Park. ARLHS USA-901; Admiralty J0294; USCG 1-10090.

1871. Reactivated (inactive 1977-1983; now maintained by the National
Park Service); focal plane 25 ft (7.5 m); red flash every 6 s. 14
ft (4 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery,
painted white; lantern black. Anderson's page for the lighthouse
has good photos,
Trabas has a closeup, and Bing has a satellite
view. Google has a distant street view of the light behind the replica tall ship Friendship. This is probably the smallest traditional U.S. lighthouse.
There was never a keeper's house for this light; keepers lived in their own houses in town and walked to work. Nearly 1/2 mile (800 m) long, the
wharf was the traditional heart of Salem Harbor. A disastrous fire in 1914 destroyed most of the wharf, but the lighthouse survived. The Coast Guard deactivated the light in 1977 and transferred the building to the park service in 1979. The Friends of Salem Maritime National Historic Site assist with
restoration and maintenance. Located at the
end of the wharf; accessible by an easy walk along the pier.
Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator: U.S. National Park Service. Site
manager: Salem
Maritime National Historic Site. ARLHS USA-224; Admiralty J0296;
USCG 1-10129.

1896 (station established 1835). Active; focal plane 130 ft (40
m); continuous green light. 105 ft (32 m) square pyramidal skeletal
tower with central cylinder, lantern, and double gallery; 300 mm
lens. Tower is painted light brown, lantern and watch room black.
The keeper's house was demolished in the 1960s; the brick oil house survives. Adam Witwer's photo is at right, Brian Birke has a good 2008 photo, Anderson has a fine page
for the lighthouse, Trabas has a good photo, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. The original lighthouse was a 23 ft (7 m) round stone tower, seen in panoramic 1895 photo. The current lighthouse is of the "Sanibel" class of
skeletal lighthouses, a design seen mostly in the southeastern
states; it is the only lighthouse of its kind in New England.
In 1947 Chandler Hovey purchased the land surrounding the lighthouse and donated it to the town as a park that now bears his name. A rededication
ceremony for the light was held at the lighthouse in September 2002. Located on
Lighthouse Point at the northern tip of Marblehead Neck. Site open
(city park), tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard (tower only).
Site manager: Town of Marblehead
(Chandler Hovey Park). ARLHS USA-473; Admiralty J0304; USCG 1-0360.

1905 (Royal Luther). Active; focal plane 98 ft (30 m); 2 white
flashes every 12 s, day and night. 113 ft (34.5 m) unpainted round
granite waveswept tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating
keeper's quarters; solar-powered VRB-25 aerobeacon (2001). Lantern
painted black. Fog horn (2 blasts every 20 s). The original 1st
order Fresnel lens is reported to be in storage at the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, DC. David Smith's photo is at right, Tiffany Lanceleve has a portfolio of 2013 photos, a closeup 2007 photo
is available, Anderson has a good page with several photos, Trabas has a distant view, Lighthouse
Digest has Jeremy D'Entremont's article with the history
of the lighthouse, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Google has a satellite
view. It took two years to construct a lighthouse on this difficult site. Keepers maintained the light until it was automated in 1976; the light was converted
to solar power in 2001. The General Services Administration began an auction sale of the lighthouse in June 2013. After spirited bidding the lighthouse sold on August 31 for $933,888, more than double the previous record for a GSA auction; the new owner is Dave Waller, a Boston businessman. Waller is restoring the tower with the help of volunteers; he has a blog detailing his efforts. Located on a tiny island adjacent to the
Boston North Channel east of Winthrop; this island is included
in the Boston
Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The entrance to Boston for larger vessels is to the north of this lighthouse. Accessible only by
boat, but landing on the island is strongly discouraged due to
the dangerous surf and tide conditions. Friends
of the Boston Harbor Islands arranges boat tours passing
near the site. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Graves Light Station. ARLHS USA-341; Admiralty J0310; USCG 1-0390.

2015 (station established 1890). Active; focal plane 53 ft (16 m);
flash every 5 s, alternating red and white. 33 ft (10 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a platform supported by piles. Fog horn (blast every 10 s). Anderson has a photo. The original lighthouse here was a cast iron sparkplug tower seen in Huelse's
postcard
view and the Coast Guard's historic photo. It was demolished in 1982 and replaced by a round brown
fiberglass tower mounted on the foundation of the sparkplug lighthouse. Anderson's page also
has good photos,
Trabas has a closeup, Lighthouse Digest has an article with the history
of the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite
view. The 1982 light was the first fiberglass lighthouse installed
in the U.S. Deer Island is included in the Boston
Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Located in the entrance
to Boston's Inner Harbor off the southern end of Deer Island. Visible
from the Massachusetts Water
Resources Authority plant on Deer Island. Accessible only by boat.
Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS
USA-1096; Admiralty J0324; USCG 1-10795.

1936. Decommisioned 1975. 2-masted steel lightship, length 149
ft (45 m), beam 32 ft (10 m). Ship's hull painted red, superstructure
white. Ron Janard's photo is at right. The ship served all of its career,
except for World War II, on the Nantucket Shoals station off Massachusetts.
It is one of three surviving lightships known as Nantucket.
The ship was at Nantucket as a museum vessel from 1976 to 1984;
later it was owned by the HMS Rose Foundation and berthed at Bridgeport,
Connecticut. In 2002 the lightship was sold for $1 to the National
Lighthouse Museum, a proposed museum on Staten Island, New York. In October 2003
the ship was at Oyster Bay on Long Island, New York, where volunteers worked to restore
its systems. Initially, the ship was supposed to remain at Oyster
Bay for only six months, but its stay was extended for several years.
Some residents thought it had worn
out its welcome, but others considered it an asset to the harbor.
In December 2006, the cash-strapped museum board changed its mind
about the lightship and put it back on sale for $1 to any preservation
group willing to take it. Another organization, U.S.
Lightship Museum, Inc., began raising funds and planning to
move the lightship back to Boston. In October 2009, the lightship
museum group put up its $1 and took title to the lightship. The
ship was welcomed back to Boston on 12 May 2010. After restoration
and repairs at the Fitzgerald Shipyard in Chelsea, the ship is now on display at the Boston
Harbor Shipyard and Marina.
By June 2012, the restoration of the exterior of the ship was almost complete and work had begun on the interior. In December 2014, American Express announced a grant of $250,000 to restore the ship's lantern, fog signal, and electrical system. A fundraising drive for additional repairs began in May 2015. A photo is at right, and Google has an aerial view of the ship moored at the marina. Site open, ship open on Saturdays late April through October (group tours available by appointment). Owner/site manager: U.S.
Lightship Museum, Inc. ARLHS USA-522.

Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane about 43 ft (13 m); white flash every 2.5 s. Light mounted atop the Sugar Bowl Shade Shelter, a covered observation shelter. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Pleasure Bay is a section of Dorchester Bay, in South Boston on the south side of Castle Island, the location of the early 18th century Fort Independence. The bay is enclosed by causeways leading to a small island, the site of the shelter. Accessible by walking the causeways; the shelter is about 3/4 mi (1200 m) from Fort Independence. Site and shelter open daily. Owner/operator: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (Castle Island Park). Admiralty J0336; USCG 1-11235.

1900 (station established 1819). Reactivated (inactive 1982-1985); focal
plane 120 ft (36.5 m); white flash every 2.5 s. 52 ft (16 m) round cylindrical
brick tower with lantern and gallery, solar-powered VLB-44 LED optic. Tower painted
white, lantern and gallery black. Keeper's house demolished. Anderson's page for the lighthouse has
photos, Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com
has aerial photos, Huelse
has a historic postcard
view, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, and Bing has an aerial
view. Sibling of Eastern Point Light. This is the second oldest light station
in the harbor. The original 23 ft (7 m) rubblestone tower was replaced in
1844 by the first cast iron lighthouse built in the U.S. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of that light. It was replaced in
1881 by a second cast iron tower, similar to Race Point Light on Cape Cod.
In 1900, that light had to be removed to make way for an extension of Fort
Strong. The brick tower, built in 1900 as a replacement, was renovated in
1998. In 2011, lighthouse fans were pressing for public access to the lighthouse, but the city administration was resisting. Long Island is the site of several city facilities, including a large shelter for the homeless and a summer camp for inner-city youth. Located on the northern tip of Long Island at the entrance to Boston's
Inner Harbor, directly opposite the Deer Island Light. Long Island, included in the Boston
Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, is connected to the mainland
by a causeway, but access to the lighthouse is closed.
Visible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast
Guard. ARLHS USA-449; Admiralty J0337; USCG 1-10800.

1805. Octagonal stucco-covered wooden pyramid, painted black with
a white horizontal band, mounted on a granite base. Philip Harwood has a good photo, and Google has a satellite
view. Not a lighthouse, but a very famous unlighted aid to navigation,
this beacon was built by the state of Massachusetts. It has been adopted
as the symbol of the Friends of the
Boston Harbor Islands. In 2001 the Coast Guard announced it would
replace the deteriorated landmark, but following protests from the
Friends and others it carried out a complete restoration in 2003. Located on a tiny scrap of land east of Long Island Head
and north of Gallops Island. Accessible only by boat; visible from
many harbor tours. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 1-11450.

1903. Inactive since 1939. The lighthouses, 31 ft (9.5 m) and 40
ft (12 m) wooden towers, were demolished in 1939 to make way for an
extension of Fort Standish. The original brick oil house remains, but it is in ruins; Chris Klein has a 2007 photo (note the Nix's Mate beacon in the background). The Coast
Guard has a historic
photo of the lighthouses. Lovells Island is accessible in the summer by passenger
ferry service; individual and group camping available. Located
on an island roughly midway between Long Island Head and Boston Harbor
Lights. Accessible only by boat. Site open. Owner: U.S. National Park
Service. Site manager: Boston Harbor
Islands National Recreation Area. ARLHS USA-456 and 1114.

1783 (oldest U.S. light station, established 1716). Active; focal
plane 102 ft (31 m); white flash every 10 s. 89 ft (27 m) round rubblestone
tower with lantern and gallery (raised from 75 ft (23 m) in 1859),
rotating 2nd order Fresnel
lens (1859). Tower painted white, lantern black. Fog horn (2 blasts
every 30 s). Recently restored 2-story Victorian wood keeper's house
(1884), fog signal building (1876), oil house (1889), and other buildings.
A photo is at right, Anderson has an excellent
page
for the lighthouse, Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Bing has an aerial
view. This light tower replaced the first U.S. lighthouse (1716),
which was blown up by retreating British troops in 1776 (a 1719 fog cannon survives from the earlier light station). It is the
second oldest U.S. lighthouse (after Sandy Hook, New Jersey) and it was the last
U.S. lighthouse to be automated (1998). Power for the light now comes
from a wind
turbine in Hull. One of the most famous of all U.S. lighthouses,
it is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This is also the only
light station still staffed--purely
as a light station--by the Coast Guard, although a number of other
lighthouses are located on the grounds of active Coast Guard stations.
Historic Boston, Inc., and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Management have sponsored restoration of the light station. In May 2014, the Coast Guard announced a $1.5 million project to repaint and refurbish the lighthouse and other station buildings in preparation for the celebration of the light station's tricentennial in 2016. The project was completed on schedule in the spring of 2016. Friends
of the Boston Harbor Islands schedules boat tours to the
lighthouse Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the summer season. Reservations are required; check their lighthouse tours page for tickets. Located on Little Brewster Island north of Hull.
Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower open to guided tours. Owner/site
manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-073; Admiralty J0314; USCG 1-0425.

1860 (Barton S. Alexander). Active; focal plane 85 ft (26 m); 8 flashes
every 45 s, in a unique 1+4+3 pattern: 1 flash, 5 s off, 4 flashes, 5 s off,
3 flashes. 114 ft (35 m) unpainted round granite tower with lantern and gallery,
incorporating keeper's quarters; solar-powered 300 mm lens (1983). Lantern
and watch room painted gray. A 3rd order Fresnel lens (used 1964-1971) is
on display in a replica
lantern at the 2-story wood keeper's
house (1858) located onshore on Government Island in Cohasset. Fog bell
also on display. Assistant keeper's house and oil house also located on Government
Island. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Lighthouse Digest has D'Entremont's article on the history of the lighthouse, Anderson has a fine page for the station, Trabas has a photo, Dorothy Lodovici has a view from shore, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Google has a satellite view. Google also has a satellite view of the keeper's house in Cohasset. The lighthouse is famous for its highly exposed location and for its unique "I love you" light pattern. The Coast Guard has a drawing of the first
tower, which was lit on New Year's Day 1850. Keepers were convinced the tower was not safe, and they were right: two keepers were killed when the lighthouse collapsed in a storm on the morning of 17 April 1851. Salvaged from the disaster, the original fog bell hangs in the steeple of the Baptist Church in Bryant Pond, Maine. The present
tower took 5 years to build and is still considered a major engineering accomplishment.
The tower was restored in 1989. The onshore keeper's house was restored in
1992-93 through the efforts of the Cohasset Lightkeepers Corporation. In 2009
the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA, but there were no takers. In 2013 the General Services Administration offered to transfer the lighthouse at no cost to the Town of Scituate, but the town did not accept. An auction sale of the lighthouse began in June 2014, and in October it was sold for $222,000 to philanthropist Bobby Sager.
Located
about 2 km (1.25 mi) northeast of Minot Point. Lighthouse accessible only
by boat. Light tower closed, but the Cohasset keeper's house is open. Tower
owner/site manager: private. Onshore station owner: Town of Cohasset;
site manager: Cohasset Lightkeepers Corp. ARLHS USA-502; Admiralty J0360;
USCG 1-0440.

1811 (heightened by 15 ft (4.5 m) in 1827). Reactivated (inactive
1860-1994; now privately maintained); focal plane 49 ft (15 m); white
flash every 15 s. 50 ft (15 m) round granite and brick tower connected
by a covered "runway" to a 1-1/2 story keeper's house. FA-250 lens.
Tower painted white; lantern and gallery are green. The lantern is
a replica installed in 1930. Stephen Masiello's photo is at right,
Anderson has a good page
with several photos, Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, Google has a street view, and Bing has an aerial
view. After being closed in 1860, the keeper's house was reopened
(1891-1924) to serve the Scituate North Jetty Light. The light station
has been restored through the efforts of the Scituate Historical Society
and Cedar Point Association. The keeper's house is leased to a resident
lightkeeper. In 2001, historical displays were installed in the covered walkway
connecting the light tower and keeper's house. Lighthouse Digest
has a March 2003 article
on these and other recent efforts, and the historical society has
a web
page for the lighthouse. In 2008, lightkeeper Ruth Downton retired
after 23 years; she was succeeded in early 2009 by Bob Gallagher,
a high school social studies teacher. In November 2012, plans were announced for a stone revetment to better protect the lighthouse from storm damage; this project was completed in late 2013. Located in Lighthouse Park on
Cedar Point on the north side of the entrance to Scituate Harbor.
Site open, tower closed except for an occasional open house. Owner:
Town of Scituate. Site
manager: Scituate
Historical Society (Scituate Light House). ARLHS USA-742; Admiralty J0363; USCG 1-12275.

1843 (station established 1769). Active; focal plane 102 ft (31
m); 3 white flashes every 30 s, flashes separated by 5 s; a red sector
covers dangerous rocks. 34 ft (10 m) old-style octagonal pyramidal
wood tower with lantern and gallery, covered by cedar shingles; 190
mm lens. Tower painted white; lantern black with red roof. Fog horn
(2 blasts every 15 s). The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display
at the Hull Lifesaving
Museum in Hull. The modern ranch style keeper's house (1963) is available for vacation rental. A photo is at right, D'Entremont has a fine photo from about 1996, Anderson also has a good page
for this lighthouse, Trabas has Ronald Wöhrn's photo, Lighthouse Digest has D'Entremont's March 2003 article
on the history of the light station, Marinas.com has aerial
photos, and Bing has an aerial
view. Originally the station had twin lighthouses (as seen in
Huelse's historic postcard
view); foundations remain of the former north tower, demolished
in 1924. This is the nation's oldest active wooden light tower and
the only survivor of many small wooden pyramidal lighthouses built
in New England prior to 1850. The lighthouse was relocated
140 ft (43 m) north in December 1998 to escape beach erosion. Project
Bug Light leased the lighthouse from the Coast Guard in 1999. Located
on a bluff at Gurnet Point, at the end of a long sand spit on the
north side of Plymouth Harbor. There is no public road access; the
lighthouse is accessible by boat or by a 5-mile (8 km) hike on the
beach from Duxbury Beach. Site open, tower closed except for occasional
open house events. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Project
Gurnet and Bug Lights. ARLHS USA-609; Admiralty J0366; USCG 1-12545.

1871. Active; focal plane 35 ft (10.5 m); 2 red flashes every 5 s. 47 ft
(14.5 m) round sparkplug cast iron tower
(brick lined) with lantern and upper and lower galleries, incorporating 2-story
keeper's quarters and mounted on a concrete caisson; solar-powered 250 mm
lens. Fog horn (blast every 15 s). Lower half of lighthouse is red, upper
portion white, lantern black. David Sugden's photo is at the top of this page, Luis Lebron has a fine photo,
Anderson's page has a closeup,
Trabas has a photo, Huelse has a historic postcard
view, and Google has a satellite
view. This is the oldest of the U.S. sparkplug towers and the first caisson
lighthouse built in the U.S. The lighthouse is chronically endangered by age
and weather. Project Gurnet and Bug Lights
worked to restore the tower in the mid-80's and again in the mid 90's. In
2001, Campbell Construction completed
a $40,000 restoration and repair project. Lighthouse Digest has a September
2001 feature
on restoration efforts here and at the Gurnet (previous entry). In 2009, the
Coast Guard agreed to repair the upper gallery handrail and lantern windows;
additional repairs and a repainting were carried out in 2010. In May 2014 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. Located in Duxbury
Bay (not on a pier) on the north side of the entrance channel to Plymouth.
Accessible only by boat; visible from Plymouth Harbor boat
tours. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Project
Gurnet and Bug Lights. ARLHS USA-251; Admiralty J0368; USCG 1-12580.

Broad
Sound Channel Inner Range Lights (1903-1950s), Boston Harbor.
These lights were at the north end of Spectacle Island; the range was discontinued and nothing remains of the lighthouses. ARLHS USA-953 (front) and 954 (rear).

Egg Rock (1897-1927),
off Nahant. The light was deactivated in 1922. The keeper's house was destroyed during an effort to move it to a barge for relocation, and the light tower was demolished in 1927. There is no longer a light on the island. ARLHS USA-956.

Narrows
(1856-1929), Boston Harbor. This lighthouse, a cottage screwpile, marked the outer entrance to The Narrows, a passage on the south side of Lovell Island. The lighthouse was destroyed by fire on 7 June 1929. It was replaced by a light on a skeletal mast (Admiralty J0318; USCG 7-11430) southwest of the original location, near the edge of the channel. ARLHS USA-960.